Biden’s Last-Minute Authorization for Strikes Deep Inside Russia Sparks Division Across Europe
President Biden's last-minute decision to authorize Ukrainian forces to strike deep inside Russia has sparked a split among European leaders.
In a dramatic move, North Korea has deployed 11,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine has been mounting a counter-offensive since August.
Meanwhile, the European Union is preparing to inform member states that they may redirect up to 372 billion euros ($392 billion) in unspent subsidies from Brussels to military purposes, according to a report from the Financial Times last week, citing EU officials. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has also confirmed the upcoming policy shift.
These funds, originally allocated for the Cohesion Fund to support growth in poorer EU regions, could now be used for dual-purpose infrastructure—such as roads and bridges with military significance—or for military equipment like drones and vehicles, the FT reported.
In parallel, the Biden administration is moving quickly to draw down $7.1 billion in military supplies, including equipment and ammunition, from US stockpiles to be sent to Ukraine almost weekly before the transition of power to President Trump on January 20.
The most contentious move, however, has been Biden's reversal of a previous ban on using US-made weapons 300km (185 miles) inside Russian territory. According to the Washington Post and New York Times, unnamed officials have confirmed that Ukraine is now authorized to use US Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS) in Russia's Kursk region, where approximately 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops are engaged in staving off the Ukrainian counteroffensive.